What we Believe

   Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." This Scripture has widely been used for water baptism; however, there are no other scriptures to support this verse as only a  formula for water baptism. So what is Jesus saying in this verse?

   We get a better understanding by going back to the original Greek, here is a better translation, "Go ye therefore and disciple all nations, submerge or wash them in authority and character of the Father, and the authority and character of the Son, and the authority and character of the Holy Spirit."

   We actually don't find the word "name" at all in the original. The great commission was not to just get people water baptized. It was to redeem mankind completely, spirit, soul and body.

   Just as God is a Triune Being, mankind being created in God's image is 3 in 1, see I Thessalonians 5:23, we have a spirit, soul and body. To redeem mankind completely the Lord has to deal with all three aspects; therefore we don't just see one baptism, we actually see three. See the doctrine of baptisms, Hebrews 6:2.

   To have three separate baptisms we then have three elements of baptism and three different baptizers.

Born Again - the element, the "blood of Jesus," the baptizer, "the Holy Spirit." No one can be born again without the blood of Jesus or come to God except by the Spirit. I Corinthians 12:13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

Water Baptism - the element, "water,"  the baptizer "a human being." A lot of people simply get wet since they do not understand what water baptism is really for. You only receive what it is you have faith to receive. Romans 6:3-8, tells us that when we are baptized into Jesus Christ we are baptized into His death, and when we come up out of the water we should walk in newness of life. God chose water since our bodies are made up of mostly water.  He is the only One who walked a sinless life. 1. Acts 2:38, "Name of Jesus Christ." 2. Acts 8:16, "Name of the Lord Jesus." 3. Acts 10:48, "Name of the Lord." 4. Acts 19:4, "Name of the Lord Jesus." 5. Acts 22:16, "Name of the Lord." I Cor. 1:13, "Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" Whether you are baptized in, "The Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," or in,  "The Name of Jesus," the most important thing is to understand and have faith that your old flesh man will be crucified with Christ, that you are not just getting wet, that it is not just an outward show of an inward work, something is going to change. The argument can be made that there no other supporting Scriptures for water baptizing in "The Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," and that is true, however, all three of the Godhead are actually One and are involved in all aspects of your spirituality. The Lord is going to look at your faith not at a formula. In fact, here is what I say when I am water baptizing someone, "Upon your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the Name of the Father, the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit." Every time that I do this the anointing and presence of God is very strong. In fact, I believe that all three baptisms can be received at once with the correct understanding and expectancy. 

Baptism with the Holy Spirit - the element "the Holy Spirit," the baptizer, "Jesus." Scriptures that declare that Jesus is the baptizer with the Holy Spirit: Mark 1:8, John 1:33, Acts 1:5 and Acts 11:16. Scriptures showing examples of people being baptized with the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:4, Acts 8:12-20, Acts 9:17-18, Acts 10:44-48, and Acts 19:1-6.

Old Testament Shadow: the children of Israel had to put the blood over their doors before leaving "Egypt" then according to I Corinthians 10:2 they were all baptized in both the cloud and the sea. So we see all three, the blood, the water and the Spirit.

*You can also see what we believe by visiting Rodney's YouTube channel below.